Arm Lake Provincial Recreation Area and Shuster Lake

In late August, we had a chance to paddle Arm Lake and scout Shuster Lake, both just SE of Wainwright.

Arm Lake

Arm Lake is a small lake (maybe a 2km perimeter) with access through the Arm Lake Campsite. It was quite a cloudy morning when we were there and the photos don't really do justice to a very nice lake.

You can get in either at the boat launch or of the swimming beach. We chose the beach. It had change rooms, pit toilets (meh), nice sand, and a steel dock. It was maybe a 20m carry down a gentle sandy slope.

The water was super clear and swimmable. The lake is located down below the level of the surrounding land so it was also quite sheltered. It would be a good SUP option.

The shoreline is a mix of undeveloped forest and private cabins (moreso on the north and east shores). We went left (north) off the beach and paddled slowly around the lake.

The shoreline includes a fair bit of reeds and there were grebes and other waterfowl there.

In the SW corner, there is a second small, beach a the boat launch.

The launch was sand-gravel with a dock and a portapotty. It also looks like you can get into two smaller basins off the back side of the boat launch, although we didn't go explore this.

 

Overall, a lovely but very small lake, perfect for SUP or kids.

Shuster Lake

Just to the southwest of Arm Lake is Shuster Lake. This is a small, reedy lake, likely best for fishing. access is from the south side of the lake and requires a 2km drive off the pavement that starts as gravel, and then becomes sand, and then turns into a dirt track with some bumps and mud.

Not any kind of big deal (maybe it would be after a rain) but worth knowing if you are headed that way and don't like more adventurous driving.

The track eventually ends at the edge of the lake with a small area to turn around and a fire pit. There is a short canal that leads out into the lake.

This looked like a hard entry to a pretty so-so lake, we we decided to take a pass and head over to nearby Clear Lake.

I probably wouldn't bother to drive here again, especially given the proximity of Arm and Clear Lakes.